Biological fluid specimen collection bag

Abstract

The invention concerns the collection of a biological fluid specimen. Both an apparatus and method of collection are described. The apparatus includes an optically transparent plastic bag having a sealable collection port. The bag may be sealed into at least two separate subcompartments. After sealing, the subcompartments are to contain substantially identical fluid specimens. The bag further includes a displaceable element for selectively dispensing and drawing fluid into the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of using a collection and analysis system including a human fluid specimen collected solely for analysis purposes, comprising the steps of: accumulating said human fluid specimen in a plastic bag, said plastic bag having at least one collection port allowing the input of said human fluid specimen;   sealing said collection port of said plastic bag after collecting said human fluid specimen; and   sealing said plastic bag into at least two subcompartments by sealing means resulting in said completely sealed subcompartments containing redundant substantially homogeneous forms of said human fluid specimen collected solely for said analysis purposes.   
     
     
       2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said sealing means for said subcompartments comprises a heat and pressure sealing device. 
     
     
       3. A collection system for a human urine specimen collected solely for analysis comprising; a plastic bag for accumulating said human urine specimen, said plastic bag having at least one collection port allowing the input of said human urine specimen and further including means for sealing said collection port after collection of said human urine specimen and after collecting said human urine specimen said plastic bag is sealable into at least two subcompartments by sealing means resulting in sealed subcompartments containing redundant, substantially homogeneous forms of said human urine specimen collected solely for said analysis purposes; and   said plastic bag further including at least one access port allowing the controlled dispensing from at least one of said subcompartments of said bag of said human urine specimen for said analysis, said plastic bag further including a displaceable element means for displacing in order to selectively dispense and draw into said system said human fluid specimen.   
     
     
       4. The system as defined in claim 3 wherein said access port includes a pipette. 
     
     
       5. A collection system for a human fluid specimen collected solely for analysis purposes, comprising; a plastic bag for accumulating said human fluid specimen, said plastic bag having at least one collection port allowing the input of said human fluid specimen and after collecting said human fluid specimen said plastic bag being sealable by means for mechanically sealing said collection port and said plastic bag further sealable into at least two subcompartments by sealing means resulting in said sealed subcompartments containing redundant, substantially homogeneous forms of said human fluid specimen collected solely for said analysis purposes; and   a displaceable element means for displacing in order to selectively dispense and draw into said bag said human fluid specimen.   
     
     
       6. The system as defined in claim 5 wherein said displaceable element means comprises at least in part a plastic tubing portion. 
     
     
       7. The system as defined in claim 5 further including means for supporting said plastic bag during collection of said human fluid specimen and comprises a threaded fitting and sealing member sealingly coupled to said plastic bag. 
     
     
       8. The system as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for supporting includes a threaded cap element having a flange sealingly coupled to said plastic bag, said threaded cap element engageable to said means for mechanically sealing. 
     
     
       9. The system as defined in claim 5 wherein said system further includes a funnel for directing said human fluid specimen into the opening of said collection port of said plastic bag. 
     
     
       10. The system as defined in claim 7 further including a separate support member coupled to said means for supporting said plastic bag. 
     
     
       11. The system as defined in claim 5 further including a tamper cap. 
     
     
       12. The system as defined in claim 5 wherein said plastic bag includes a dispensing spout. 
     
     
       13. The system as defined in claim 12 wherein said dispensing spout comprises a pipette. 
     
     
       14. The system as defined in claim 5 wherein said plastic bag includes means for controllably displacing fluid in said subcompartment. 
     
     
       15. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said human fluid specimen comprises urine. 
     
     
       16. The system as defined in claim 5 wherein said human fluid specimen comprises urine. 
     
     
       17. A collection system for a human fluid specimen collected solely for analysis purposes, comprising; a plastic bag for accumulating said human fluid specimen, said plastic bag having at least one collection port allowing the input of said human fluid specimen and after collecting said human fluid specimen said plastic bag is sealable into at least two subcompartments by sealing means resulting in sealed subcompartments containing redundant, substantially homogeneous forms of said human fluid specimen collected solely for said analysis purposes; and   means for mechanically sealing said collection port of said plastic bag with said fluid specimen therein and further comprising means for supporting said plastic bag during collection of said human fluid specimen and comprises a port fitting coupled to said plastic bag and said sealing means engaged with said port fitting.   
     
     
       18. An optically transparent collection system for a human fluid specimen collected solely for analysis purposes, comprising: said optically transparent collection system comprised of optically transparent flexible plastic and having at least one collection port allowing the input of said human fluid specimen and after collecting said human fluid specimen said plastic system is sealable into at least two subcompartments by sealing means resulting in sealed subcompartments containing redundant, substantially homogeneous forms of said human fluid specimen collected solely for said analysis purposes;   a prescreening test means disposed within said system; and   means for mechanically sealing said collection port with said collected human fluid specimen included in said collection system, said optically transparent plastic allowing said fluid specimen to be optically examined while held in said collection system.   
     
     
       19. The system as defined in claim 18 wherein said optically transparent plastic comprises a visually translucent plastic. 
     
     
       20. The system as defined in claim 18 wherein said analysis purposes includes performing optical testing through said optically transparent plastic. 
     
     
       21. An optically transparent collection system for a human fluid specimen collected solely for analysis purposes, comprising: said optically transparent collection system comprised of optically transparent flexible plastic and having at least one collection port allowing the input of said human fluid specimen and after collecting said human fluid specimen said plastic system is sealable into at least two subcompartments by sealing means resulting in sealed subcompartments containing redundant, substantially homogeneous forms of said human fluid specimen collected solely for said analysis purposes;   displaceable element means for displacing in order to selectively dispense and draw into said system said human fluid specimen; and   means for mechanically sealing said collection port with said collected human fluid specimen included in said collection system, said optically transparent plastic allowing said fluid specimen to be optically examined while held in said collection system.